Scientist says env impact reports ‘manipulated’

Nagpur: Taking a bold stance against expert environment institutes, eminent ecologist, scientist and Padma Shri recipient Madhav Gadgil stated that the environment impact assessment reports prepared in the country are manipulated.Gadgil, a former member to the scientific advisory council to the Prime Minister and head of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) of 2010, was in the city to attend the 61st foundation day of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri).While addressing the gathering as a guest of honour, Gadgil told the institute some home truths of the past. Citing example of the nuclear power park project of Jaitapur, the scientist alleged that Neeri “downplayed observations” in its 2010 environment impact assessment report. “Neeri edited the report of Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (KKV) to downplay their observations on wealth of the coastal ecosystem,” said Gadgil. In its report, the institute had stated that there was no sensitive ecosystem in the inter-tidal area and coastal zone and a small patch of mangroves existed at a distance of five kilometres.Stating that environment impact assessment reports play a significant role in ensuring that development is on proper track, Gadgil said that most of the officially commissioned reports in India are full of fabricated facts to favour projects. “Not a single report highlights anything wrong about a project,” he said.Highlighting relevant legal provisions, Gadgil added that inputs from citizens should also be taken while preparing such reports. Talking on climate change, director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Shekhar Mande said that compared to developed nations, India is taking better efforts to fulfil its commitment of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. He added that Neeri’s activities and achievements should be made more visible to the public.Highlighting some of the ongoing key projects, Neeri director Rakesh Kumar said that the institute is working on rejuvenating Ganga river and tracking the air pollutants from Punjab and Haryana.

The institute had also organized a brainstorming session on ‘Closing the Loop: Environmental Sustainable Challenges’ in which various experts including chairman of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Sudhir Shrivastava, CEO of Smart City, Nagpur Ramnath Sonawane, director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga Rajiv Ranjan Mishra and others shared their views. On the occasion, Neeri also launched the logo of ‘green crackers’ which aim at reducing emission levels.